Ginger Mick Trout Fly

with Allan Burgess

The Ginger Mick is an interesting lure pattern in that it closely resembles several other lures with the ginger coloured cock neck hackle being the only difference. In particular, it is quite close to the Parsons’ Glory.

This comes originally from Kilwell Sports in Rotorua. It is mainly used as a trolling and harling fly.

Hook size: 2-8. A good strong hook to use is the Black Magic 2x Long Shank, or a Kamasan B830.

Tail: Red whisks.

Body: Red, Yellow, or green chenille. Also, flat gold tinsel wound over with a gold rib.

Rib: Silver oval tinsel.

Wing: Four ginger hackles or furnace hackles – These must be a ginger colour for this fly to be worthy of the name.

Collar: Ginger hackle.

Head: Black.

The Flyshop.co.nz is a good place to shop online for New Zealand trout flies, and tying material.

A few strips of Pearl Krystal Flash may be added to the sides for additional flash!

Derek Quilliam in his excellent book The Complete Guide to New Zealand Trout Lures talks about yellow and green bodied versions being available choices, and a silver body is very popular in the Rotorua district.

Another highly regarded version sold in New Zealand has a gold body and gold rib. It is popular for harling and trolling on Lake Taupo.

The Ginger Mick is a simple to tie standard Matuku style lure pattern. It has been tried, tested, and proven as a smelting pattern on the central North Island lakes.  Larger flies in size 2-6 are used for harling, and lure fishing with the fly rod at river mouths, and over weed beds. Smaller sizes 8 and 10s are popular as jigging flies.

Fishingmag main Trout Fishing page.